National Pet ID Week, which runs annually from April 17 to 23, serves as a reminder to pet guardians of the importance of permanent identification and having it registered to a database like the BC Pet Registry.
In 2025, more than 5,000 lost pets came through the doors of BC SPCA community animal centres. Unfortunately, approximately 85 per cent of the cats and 40 per cent of the dogs were not able to be reunited with their families because they did not have permanent identification, or the information wasn’t registered or up to date.
“Without permanent identification, it can be extremely difficult, often impossible, to identify a lost pet and reunite them with their guardian,” says Priscilla Cheung, manager, BC Pet Registry. “Collars and tags are important, but they can slip off. Permanent identification like a microchip stays with your pet for their whole life.”
Mike, a lost cat, was one of the lucky ones who was able to find his way home.
“On October 7, Mike slipped out the door of his home in Kamloops and vanished,” says Cheung. “The family searched for months, frantic to find their beloved cat.”
When Mike first went missing, Nicole, Mike’s guardian, walked the neighbourhood shaking bags of treats and calling his name. She posted in local Facebook groups and asked neighbours to watch for him. Despite her efforts, he was not found.
On December 5, Nicole got the call she had been desperately waiting for. Mike had been found by a bylaw officer and brought to the BC SPCA Kamloops. He had travelled 25 kilometres away from home, crossing bridges and a river. When BC SPCA staff scanned for a microchip, Nicole’s contact information immediately came up.
“When I got the call, my mind was racing from what to how,” Nicole shared. “I didn’t believe it at first. It felt surreal.”
When Nicole arrived, she felt overwhelmed. Mike appeared a little fearful and skittish at first, but very quickly, there were tears of relief and long-awaited snuggles.
“Because Mike’s microchip was registered and accurate, up-to-date contact information was registered to it, BC SPCA staff were able to reach out to Nicole,” says Cheung. “They set up a time for her to come to the centre and reunite with Mike.”
“We think Mike must have climbed into a vehicle and unknowingly hitched a ride,” says Nicole. “All of his animal siblings, a cat, a dog and a chicken were all very happy to have him home again.”
During recent BC Pet Registry community events, hundreds of pets were scanned. Shockingly, approximately 20 per cent of microchips were not linked to any registry in North America.
This National Pet ID Week, the BC SPCA and BC Pet Registry are reminding pet guardians to check their microchip registration to verify that the linked contact information is current and accurate, and are also encouraging pets be registered with the BC Pet Registry to give BC SPCA animal centre staff, as well as authorized shelters and clinic partners, direct and immediate access to your contact information.
Learn more about how permanent ID works: Register Your Pet Microchip – How Microchip Works – BC Pet Registry.